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Paschal Evans (“Plaintiff or Evans”) brings this action for compensatory and punitive damages and injunctive relief against Sheryl Sculley, City Manager, (“Defendant Sculley”) and William McManus, Chief of Police, (“Defendant McManus”) in their official and individual capacities, City of San Antonio, (“Defendant City”) and Pedro Garcia (“Defendant Garcia or Garcia”), Mathew Parkinson and unknown SAPD officers (collectively Defendant police officers) individually and in their official capacities because Defendants, jointly and severally, denied, under the color of authority, Plaintiff his civil rights and civil liberties as guaranteed by the Constitutions and the Statutes and Laws of the United States and the State of Texas when Defendant police officers committed violent, aggravated, sexually assaultive illegal acts, more fully described below, against Plaintiff causing severe emotional, physical and permanent injuries to Plaintiff.
Citation preview
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
SAN ANTONIO DIVISION PASCHAL EVANS PLAINTIFF, CIVIL NO._________________ v. US CONSTITUTION, IV, V, VI, VIII, XIV, XV AMENDMENTS SHERYL SCULLEY, CITY MANAGER, WILLIAM MCMANUS, CHIEF OF POLICE, IN THEIR OFFICIAL AND INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND PEDRO GARCIA, MATTHEW PARKINSON, UNKNOWN POLICE OFFICERS, IN THEIR OFFICIAL AND INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES DEFENDANTS.
42 USC 1983 42 USC 1988 Pendant Texas State Actions: Hate Crimes, Official Oppression, Civil Assault, False Arrest, False Imprisonment, Failure to Control, Failure to Discipline, Illegal Strip Search, False Police Report, Failure to Intercede, et. al.
ORIGINAL COMPLAINT
A. INTRODUCTION
1. Paschal Evans (“Plaintiff or Evans”) brings this action for compensatory and
punitive damages and injunctive relief against Sheryl Sculley, City Manager, (“Defendant
Sculley”) and William McManus, Chief of Police, (“Defendant McManus”) in their official and
individual capacities, City of San Antonio, (“Defendant City”) and Pedro Garcia (“Defendant
Garcia or Garcia”), Mathew Parkinson and unknown SAPD officers (collectively Defendant
police officers) individually and in their official capacities because Defendants, jointly and
severally, denied, under the color of authority, Plaintiff his civil rights and civil liberties as
guaranteed by the Constitutions and the Statutes and Laws of the United States and the State of
Texas when Defendant police officers committed violent, aggravated, sexually assaultive illegal
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acts, more fully described below, against Plaintiff causing severe emotional, physical and
permanent injuries to Plaintiff.
2. Plaintiff was subjected to intentional, grotesque and humiliating excessive force, as
well as aggravated sexual assault and official oppression and targeted hate crimes so despised by and
repugnant to society and the United States and Texas Constitutions. The Defendants, individually and
collectively, caused and participated in those horrible events, such events being evincive of a custom,
policy and practice of Defendants Sculley, McManus and the City of San Antonio in failing to train
and control its police officers and perpetuating an unwritten policy of wholesale sexually assaultive
and violent conduct against innocent citizens. The Defendants’ actions, if known, would shock and
continue to shock the consciences of the citizens of the State of Texas and beyond.
3. The below delineated factual description of the excessive force used against Plaintiff,
and the injuries to Plaintiff as a graphic description of the custom, pattern and practice of Defendants’
propensity to employ aggravated, sexual and excessive force against San Antonians and American
citizens for illegal and unjustified reasons, including, but not limited to, committing such acts on the
basis of race, sex and social standing. But for such depictions and lawsuits of this nature, American
citizens would never see how the Defendants target, profile, punish, brutalize and rape citizens for
their own personal satisfaction and for the display and use (misuse) of authority, all under the color of
law.
4. On March 9, 2007, all Defendants violated their oaths of office and their own San
Antonio Police Department’s published and stated policy as follows:
– SAPD DEPARTMENT MISSION – “The mission of the San Antonio Police
Department is to provide quality community-oriented services . . . reduce fear . . . always
treating people with dignity, fairness and respect.”
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5. Even more disturbing, this matter, as evidenced by identifiable and quantifiable,
insidious customs, patterns and policies of administrative corruption by Defendant City of San
Antonio through its Police Department Administrative Staff and City Management, specifically,
Defendants Sculley and McManus, indicates the municipal government’s calculated and callous
disregard for the rights and privileges guaranteed all United States citizens and citizens of the
San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas community.
6. The conduct described herein (and in other similar cases before the Courts,) is
“strongly evincive of a situation of endemic corruption at the administrative levels of the San
Antonio Police Department and/or within those governmental bodies, city and/or state, with
oversight duties as to the SAPD operations.1
7. The Court and a jury shall see in this case, as in other cases before the Courts2,
Defendants City of San Antonio, Sculley and McManus through the police department’s
administrative staff, Internal Affairs Division and SAPD Chief’s Advisory Action Review
Board, have consistently failed and refused, and continue to fail and refuse, to properly control
train and discipline police officers of whom they have direct and historical knowledge as having
exhibited violent and assaultive tendencies against innocent citizens based on those citizens’
protected class rights, including, but not limited to, National Origin, race, color and sex.
1 Michael Levine, Michael Levine Consulting, Verified Liability Expert Report, Aubrety, et al. v. City of San Antonio, et al., SA05CA1011 (FB), “Evidence of Endemic Corruption at Administrative Levels of San Antonio Police Department: A Causation Factor,” § H. pp 65-66. (June 12, 2006) 2 Christiane Esteinon, et al v. City of San Antonio, cause no. 2007CI12978, the 45th Dist.Ct Bexar County, Texas, Aubrety, et. a. v. City of San Antonio et. al.; Suit attached and incorporated herein as if fully set forth verbatim; City of San Antonio, et. al._______________, Owens v. Reed, et al___________, (citations omitted) cases in which the undersigned is lead counsel; all cases cited here at FN2 are incorporated herein by reference as if fully stated verbatim as indicative of policy, pattern and practice so administered as to have become the custom of all Defendants herein, to wit: municipal custom, of consistently denying, on the basis of race and National Origin, minority citizens their rights pursuant to the United States and State of Texas Constitutions and federal and state statutes. 42 USC §§ 1981, 1983 and 1985(3); FIFTH, EIGHTH, THIRTEENTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS, US Const. SEE ALSO, THIS PLEADING, STATEMENT OF CUSTOM, POLICY AND PRACTICE: RECENT PRIOR ACTS
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8. Defendants City of San Antonio, Sculley and McManus, via acts and omissions
more fully described below, have been so derelict in the performance of their duties, such
performance being manifested through such a cold and callous disregard for and conscious
indifference to the rights of the Plaintiff, in particular, and the citizens, in particular, that
Defendants Sculley and McManus’ liability should attach to Defendants Sculley and McManus
in their individual capacities due to nonfeasance.
9. The visual images gleaned from the horrifying events unfolding on that fateful March
9, 2007 day and the resulting painful disarray in Plaintiff’s life and home not only reveal the
Defendants’ random, without cause and unauthorized acts, but also, provoke a stark, unabashed look at
the illegal policies, customs and practices of Defendants’ San Antonio Police Department as
acquiesced to and even encouraged by Defendants Sculley and McManus, Executive Officers and
policy makers of Defendant City on police matters.
10. It was precisely these historical and well-documented policies, customs and practices
which motivated and/or incited the Defendants to callously and cruelly disregard one of American
society’s well-established and basic principles of civil rights and civil liberties3 - the freedom from
brutal and violent excessive force performed with the intent to punish, violate, humiliate and
assault, all done under the color of law.
3 It is well settled that the terms Civil Rights and Civil Liberties are defined in American jurisprudence as follow:
(a.) Civil Rights - “The individual rights of personal liberty guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 19th Amendments. Civil rights includes, especially, . . . the right to due process and the right to equal protection under the law.”
(b.) Civil Liberties – Those rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights which the government is prohibited
from infringing, the “Freedom from undue governmental interference or restraint,” usually referring to the cited Amendments to the Constitution. SEE Blacks Law Dictionary, Abridged Seventh Edition, Copyright 2000, p. 195
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11. Defendants caused, severally and collectively, the dehumanizing, physically painful and
emotionally debilitating incidents which form the basis of this lawsuit. The recognition, affirmation and
vindication of the civil rights and civil liberties of Plaintiff as a citizen of the State of Texas and the
United States of America are sought by this action so as to dispel any future notions by Defendants that
Plaintiff or any other Americans and citizens, can be so callously dehumanized, brutalized, punished,
and denied their civil rights and civil liberties in contravention of federal and state constitutional rights
and laws.
B. JURISDICTION
12. Jurisdiction is conferred on this Court by 28 U.S.C. § 1343 and its pendent jurisdiction
over claims under Texas law. The recovery of compensatory and exemplary damages, injunctive relief
and attorneys fees and costs are authorized by 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and 1988.
C. PLAINTIFFS
13. Plaintiff, at the time of the horrific event and at the time of filing this suit, was and
remains a resident of Bexar County, Texas.
D. DEFENDANTS
15. Defendant Sculley is the appointed City Manager and, pursuant to the Texas Constitution
and state statutes, Chief Executive Officer of Defendant City of San Antonio.
16. Defendant McManus is the Defendant City’s Chief of Police appointed by the City
Manager, Defendant Sculley. Defendant McManus performs his duty pursuant to the Texas Constitution
and state statutes, city charter, ordinances and policy of Defendant City and he works at the pleasure of
Defendant Sculley.
17. Defendant City of San Antonio is, pursuant to the Texas Constitution, state law,
and city charter, a legally recognized and organized municipal corporation employing, by
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popular vote, the City Manager/City Council with a mayor, elected at-large, and a City Council,
the ten (10) members being elected via single-member districts. The City Council employs, by
majority vote, the City Manager who is charged with the administration and executive operation
of Defendant City. Incident to its duties as a municipal corporation, the City of San Antonio,
organized and maintained, at all times material hereto, a police department, namely the San
Antonio Police Department. The responsibility for the selection, training, supervision, and
operation of the police department, and its individual officers, was borne by the City of San
Antonio, acting through its duly elected officials and selected administrative officers and
representatives. Service on Defendant City of San Antonio may be accomplished by serving the
City Clerk, Ms. Leticia M. Vacek, Office of the City Clerk of the City of San Antonio at City
Hall, Municipal Plaza or via certified mail, return receipt requested, at P.O. Box 839966, San
Antonio, Texas 78238-3966.
18. Defendants Pedro Garcia, Mathew Parkinson and Unknown police officers are
San Antonio Police Officers and were, at all times material hereto, employed by Defendant City
as police officers. Defendant Police Officers may be individually served with process at their
place of employment, San Antonio Police Department, 214 West Nueva, San Antonio, Texas
78207.
E. DEFENDANT SCULLEY SUED IN HER OFFICIAL CAPACITY
19. The responsibility for the selection, training, supervision and operation, of the San
Antonio Police Department, its Chief of Police and its individual officers, and discipline of individual
officers, was and is borne by the Defendant Sculley acting pursuant to state constitutional and statutory
law and municipal city charter, ordinances and policy.
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F. DEFENDANT SCULLEY SUED IN INDIVIDUAL AND PERSONAL CAPACITY
20. First, because of Defendant Sculley’s intentional, willful and/or negligence, gross
negligence, nonfeasance and benign neglect of her official duties and responsibilities, to wit:
(a) selection, training and supervision of the San Antonio Police Department Chief of
Police, Defendant McManus, and San Antonio Police Department individual
officers, including, but not limited to, Defendant Garcia;
(b) establishment of policy, practice and custom of official conduct and the use of
force and abuse of authority by the San Antonio Police Department;
(c) municipal operation of a police force, namely, the San Antonio Police
Department,
(d) maintenance of the San Antonio Police Department, Office of Internal Affairs;
(e) failure to discipline Defendant McManus and San Antonio Police Department
individual officers; and
(f) failure to control, train or discipline Defendant Garcia
and, second, because of Defendant Sculley’s omissions and failure to affirmatively act on the cold,
calculated, contrived and illegal acts of all other individual Defendants, as below fully delineated, such
activities having been condoned and ratified by Defendant McManus, individually and collectively, and
such illegal acts having been so practiced as to have become a custom, Defendant Sculley is being sued
in her individual and personal capacity. Defendant Sculley shares personal responsibility for the
numerous aggravated assaults and injuries to San Antonio citizens resulting from a pattern and practice,
such having established a municipal custom, of consistently denying, on the basis of race and National
Origin, minority citizens their rights pursuant to the United States and State of Texas Constitutions and
federal and state statutes. Defendant Sculley may be served with process at San Antonio City Hall, 100
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Dolorosa, San Antonio, Texas, 78205 or via certified mail, return receipt requested, at P.O. Box839966,
San Antonio, Texas 78238-3966.
G. DEFENDANT MCMANUS SUED IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY
21. The responsibility for the selection, training, discipline, supervision and operation
of the San Antonio Police Department, its Deputy and Assistant Chiefs of Police and its individual
officers was and is borne by the Defendant McManus acting pursuant to state constitutional and
statutory law and municipal city charter, ordinances and policy.
H. DEFENDANT MCMANUS SUED IN INDIVIDUAL AND PERSONAL CAPACITY
22. First, because of Defendant McManus’s intentional, willful and/or negligence,
gross negligence, nonfeasance and benign neglect of his official duties and responsibilities, to wit:
(a) selection, training and supervision of the San Antonio Police Department Deputy
and Assistant Chiefs of Police and San Antonio Police Department individual
officers, including, but not limited to, Defendant Garcia;
(b) establishment of policy, practice and custom of official conduct of and the use of
force by the San Antonio Police Department;
(c) municipal operation of a police force, namely, the San Antonio Police
Department,
(d) maintenance of the Chief’ Advisory Action Review Board;
(e) maintenance and operation of the San Antonio Police Department, Office of
Internal Affairs;
(f) failure to discipline San Antonio Police Department individual officers;
and, second, because of Defendant McManus’s omissions and failure to affirmatively act on the
cold, calculated, contrived and illegal acts of all other individual Defendants, as below more
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fully delineated, such activities having been condoned and ratified by Defendants Sculley and
City of San Antonio, individually and collectively, and such illegal acts having been so practiced
as to have become a custom, Defendant McManus is being sued in his individual and personal
capacity. Defendant McManus shares personal responsibility for the numerous aggravated
assaults and injuries to San Antonio citizens resulting from a pattern and practice, such having
established a municipal custom, of consistently denying, on the basis of race and National
Origin, minority citizens their rights pursuant to the United States and State of Texas
Constitutions and federal and state statutes. Defendant McManus may be served with process at
his place of employment, San Antonio Police Department, 214 West Nueva, San Antonio, Texas
78207.
I. FACTS
23. Plaintiff, 27-year-old St. Phillip’s College student, is African-American male, single,
short, black and in his 20s.
24. On or about March 9, 2007, around 12:30 AM, Plaintiff, with tow other black
mails, was traveling as a guest in a friend’s vehicle in the 2600 block of E. Commerce, located in
East Bexar County, Texas, more commonly known as the “Eastside.”
25. Plaintiff was picked up at his home by Mr. Kashiff Tibbs and two other friends to
rehearse for a weekend concert performance. On the way to the rehearsal, while traveling down
Rio Grand the four young black men came to a red light at Commerce and made a right turn onto
Commerce towards downtown San Antonio.
26. On information and belief, police officer(s) in a marked SAPD police car was
traveling on Commerce away from downtown. After looking at the four black males through
Mr. Tibb’s untinted car windows, the officer(s) made a u-turn and followed behind the car in
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which Plaintiff was a back seat guest. The officer(s) turned on his flashing lights and stopped
Plaintiff and his three friends at a store parking lot at Commerce and Walters streets.
27. Plaintiff was seated in back seat behind the driver (Tibbs). The police officer, in
full uniform and working with the gang detail, walked up to the car, opened the car door and told
Plaintiff to get out while grabbing & pulling Plaintiff by the front of his shirt. The officer
handcuffed Plaintiff, searched him by patting him down and reaching into his pockets. The
officer didn’t find anything.
28. A female officer pulled up and she took over handling Plaintiff from there. She
patted Plaintiff down again and took his money and other property and put them on the hood of
the police car—all property was later returned to Plaintiff. She put Plaintiff inside her police car;
walked away and came back. She ran Plaintiff’s name on her police computer; he was clear.
She took Plaintiff out of her car.
29. Another officer asked for Plaintiff’s status and the female officer said “he’s all
clear—no warrants.” The officers started discussing what to do with Plaintiff.
30. Then the female officer told Plaintiff to take off his shoes & his socks. He
complied—they found nothing. An officer stated “what do we do with him since he’s clean.”
One of the officers said “go ahead and let him go.”
31. Then another police officer [Garcia] said “let’s check his Ass.” Plaintiff became
hysterical and said “you can take me to jail or I’ll spread my cheeks myself but I don’t want you
touching me.” The three male cops asked each other who wanted to do it and that same officer
[Garcia] said “I’ll do it.”
32. Plaintiff, along with the other three African-American males, while handcuffed,
were stripped searched and or cavity searched and his scrotums and penis fondled by Defendant
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Garcia on a public street. Garcia was in full uniform, with a badge and gun as were his fellow
officers as they looked on in laughter making derogatory statements.
33. While Plaintiff was trying to talk them out of searching his private parts, one of
the cops grabbed his neck and pinned him down to the passenger side of the cop car. Plaintiff
started crying like a baby and cussing. The officer that said “I’ll do it” [Garcia] proceeded to
stick his finger in Plaintiff’s anus without any gloves while in a public place, while Plaintiff was
handcuffed. The officer [Garcia] then reached around and touched Plaintiff’s penis and
scrotums. Plaintiff states “he did this really ruff; not like he was looking for something but
in a nasty way.” Plaintiff was holding his but cheeks tightly together so that Garcia could not
fully penetrate him.
34. Garcia stopped and turned Plaintiff around while Plaintiff was crying and
breathing real hard. The female cop tried to calm Plaintiff down asking “why are you so
upset?” Plaintiff responded “that motherfucker just stuck his finger in my ass.” Plaintiff never
had a man touch him like that.
35. The police officers again, for the 3rd time, began discussing what to do with
Plaintiff. One said “well, we can take him to jail for weed.” Plaintiff said “I don’t know what
ya’ll are talking about; I don’t smoke weed; I didn’t have any weed—it’s not mine.” They let
Plaintiff go.
36. Plaintiff walked back to his house down Walters towards IH35. He called his
mentor Jeff who told Plaintiff to go to hospital and make a report. Plaintiff relayed what
happened to him to a neighbor and family member before driving himself to University Hospital.
University Hospital personnel called the police and Plaintiff made an aggravated assault report to
the officer.
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37. The officer treated Plaintiff rudely; he told Plaintiff he had to transport Plaintiff
to the Methodist Hospital to do the rape kit and that he had to handcuff Plaintiff and put Plaintiff
in the back seat of his cop car. Plaintiff refused to be transported in that manner. When the
officer continued to argue with Plaintiff, Plaintiff told the officer to call officer’s supervisor. His
supervisor arrived and after speaking with Plaintiff the supervisor told the officer that what he
told Plaintiff was inappropriate and that he was to transport Plaintiff without cuffs.
38. Before being transported Plaintiff’s neck was x-rayed because of police grabbing
his neck and forcefully holding it down while being sexually assaulted. The doctor informed
Plaintiff that his neck had swelling but no broken bones. The officer then transported Plaintiff to
Methodist in the back seat un-cuffed.
39. The evidence officer arrived to take Plaintiff’s clothes into evidence which he
did. Plaintiff refused to give the officer his shoes since they were his only shoes which he just
purchased. Both officers argued with Plaintiff. A lady from victim’s assistance was observing
and told Plaintiff that when a female victim refuses the police do not force her to take off and
give them her belongings. Plaintiff did not give them his shoes and the evidence officer said he
was noting that in the report.
40. The nurse did the rape kit—took a swab of Plaintiff’s anus etc. The officer
transported Plaintiff to the police station where Plaintiff identified the officer that committed
aggravated assault against him in a line-up. Plaintiff also filed a report with SAPD Internal
Affairs and the same officer received “corrective action.” See attached letter from Chief of
Police McManus dated August 9, 2007.
41. Plaintiff filed a complaint with the San Antonio Police Department Internal
Affairs department.
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42. On information and belief, the complaint was sustained. Letter from Defendant
McManus attached.
43. On information and belief none of the Defendant police officers or the officers on
the scene were disciplined.
44. No formal charges of violations of the Texas penal Code have been filed against
the offending officers by the Bexar County District Attorney.
45. The conduct of Defendant police officers as well as Defendants Sculley and
McManus, was reprehensible, deplorable and unconscionable and said conduct constitutes
violations of the Texas Revised Statutes, including Texas Penal Code statutes, aggravated
assault, injury to a detainee, hate crimes, the United States and Texas Constitutions and federal
criminal statutes, to wit:
42 USC § 1983 (Violation of Rights Under the Color of Authority)
J. ALLEGATIONS
46. As a result of the above and foregoing conduct of Defendants, individually and
collectively, Plaintiff suffered and continues to suffer, great mental anguish, anxiety, humiliation,
and physical and emotional injuries to his body, accompanied by excruciating pain and suffering.
47. The emotional injuries include, but or not limited to, nightmares, sleeplessness, insomnia,
and constant fear of experiencing assault and threat of loss of life.
48. As a direct causal result of the detainment and injuries Plaintiff has suffered severe and
excruciating pain, injuries to his body, both mental and physical, causing economic, medical and other
costs, and will, in all probability, continue to suffer damages in the future as a result of the conduct of
Defendants.
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49. As a direct causal result of the Defendants’ illegal actions, Plaintiff has incurred medical
costs and in all probability will suffer continuing and future medical damages. Claim for said damages
are here made.
50. Defendants, individually and collectively, are guilty of common and statutory law
negligence in the aggravated assault of Plaintiff directly resulting from Defendant Sculley and
McManus’ negligent failure to adequately control, train and supervise Defendant police officers in the
use of force and the use of excessive force, said negligence resulting in the events made the basis of this
suit. Claim for said damages are here made.
51. Defendants, individually and collectively, are guilty of common and statutory law gross
negligence in the events here delineated directly resulting from Defendant Sculley and McManus’
negligent failure to adequately control, discipline, and train and supervise Defendant police officers in
the use of force and the use of violent, sexual and excessive force. Claim for said damages are here
made.
52. Defendant Sculley and McManus’ negligent failure to adequately control, discipline, train
and supervise Defendant police officers in the use of force and the use of excessive force would shock
the conscience of any reasonably prudent person. Such gross negligence shows the Defendants’
conscious and callous disregard for the rights and life of any citizen of the City of San Antonio, in
general, and Plaintiff Evans. Defendants Sculley, McManus, Defendant police officers, individually and
collectively, should be made to suffer exemplary and punitive damages so as to make an example of
them in order that such gross conduct will immediately cease and innocent citizens, there from, will not
be killed, maimed and/or permanently injured as have Plaintiff and many other San Antonio citizens.
Claim for said exemplary and punitive damages are here made.
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53. More over, the individual Defendants’ gross negligence previously described is but one
example that shows the Defendants, including Defendant’s City, custom, policy and practice to so
callously brutalize, punish, and deny citizens their civil rights and civil liberties based on National
Origin, African-American and race, Black, in contravention of federal and state constitutional rights and
laws. Claim for exemplary and punitive damages against the individual Defendants for administration of
this custom, practice and policy is here made.
55. At the time and place as above stated, the Defendant police officers were acting in their
official capacities as police officers of the San Antonio Police Department, and by their intentional acts,
under the color of authority, and official oppression violated the civil rights of and caused injury to and
deprived Plaintiff his constitutional rights under the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth
Amendments to the Constitution of the United States and under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983 and
1985(3).
56. At the time of the event in question, Defendants City of San Antonio, Sculley and
McManus, individually and collectively, and the San Antonio Police Department, through its intentional
acts of malfeasance, omissions, negligent hiring, failure to train, and failure to discipline deprived
Plaintiff of his constitutional rights under the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments
of the Constitution of the United States and under 42 U.S.C., §§ 1981, 1983 and 1985(3) 52.
Defendants City of San Antonio, Sculley and McManus, individually and collectively, and the
San Antonio Police Department, are guilty of the following acts:
(a) negligence in the hiring, training, supervision and maintenance of public servants of the
quality and character of the Defendant police officers;
(b) gross negligence in entrusting deadly firearms and equipment used as weapons and the
keeping of the peace to such persons;
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(c) placing public servants in positions where they can create and cause such deprivation of
rights and liberties and endanger citizens that they are by oath and employment required,
constitutionally and by statute, to protect; and,
(d) negligently allowing Defendant police officers to remain employed as SAPD officers when
they had direct knowledge that he had these assaultive tendencies.
57. This negligence and gross-negligence proximately caused the injuries and damages
complained of here by the Plaintiffs.
58. As a result of the violation of Plaintiff’s civil rights and civil liberties, as herein set out,
and the wanton, reckless and wrongful disregard of his safety and reputation by action of Defendants
herein, Plaintiff endured pain and suffering, and Plaintiff to continue to suffer severe anxiety, mental
anguish, physical injuries, humiliation, loss of love and consortium, charges for hospital and medical
treatment, present and future, as well as present and future mental pain and suffering. In all reasonable
probability, all such damages will continue into the future.
59. By reason of theses illegal acts, Plaintiff has been greatly injured and has been brought
into public scandal, disrepute, and disgrace, and have been greatly hindered and prevented from
following and transacting his affairs and business and have suffered great emotional trauma and harm,
all to his damage.
K. AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND BATTERY
60. Plaintiff was violently assaulted by Defendants; and said acts have been condoned and
adopted by all Defendants. Said acts are consistent with the custom, policy and practice of the
Defendants to racially target, punish and sexually assault citizens without the due process of law.
61. Such assaults were not consented to by Plaintiff.
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62. Defendants City, Sculley and McManus are liable for the conduct of Defendant police
officers while acting within the course and scope of their employment. Defendants City, Sculley and
McManus instituted, authorized, ratified and/or approved the conduct exhibited by Defendant police
officers. Such conduct constituted the deprivation of the civil rights and civil liberties of the Plaintiff.
63. Additionally, Defendants City, Sculley and McManus instituted policies which create and
created a climate in which the type of violent, brutal and abusive behavior exhibited by said individuals
Defendant police officers was allowed to occur. Defendants City, Sculley and McManus, in effect,
ratified and approved such violent behavior by Defendant police officers by failing to take appropriate
disciplinary measures and by ignoring sexually abusive conduct on the part of its police officers, both
prior to the event and thereafter.
64. Additionally, Defendants City, Sculley and McManus ratified and condoned the abusive
and violent behavior of its Department and its Defendant police officers, by
(a) failing to institute appropriate disciplinary systems;
(b) allowing this abusive and violent sexual brutality to go unpunished;
(c) allowing such violent police officers, including Defendants Garcia and Parkinson, to
remain in Defendants City, Sculley and McManus’ employ;
(d) failing to take immediate, or any, remedial action against the Defendant police officers
for illegal acts perpetrated against other Plaintiffs who suffered the same types of sexual
assaults from Defendant police officers and other officers.
65. Additionally, the official policy authorizing, ratifying, allowing and/or approving such
violent and abusive conduct is so common and settled so as to constitute a custom that fairly represents
municipal and/ or local government policy.
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66. The actions previously described in excruciating detail and the allegations herein stated
were undertaken by the individual Defendants in their capacities as final decision-makers pursuant to
authority granted to them by the people of the State of Texas and the City of San Antonio; such actions
represented official policy and practice.
67. Defendants City, Sculley and McManus, collectively or individually, have failed,
contrary to law and policy, to this date, to take any remedial action exhibiting not only their conscious
indifference and callous disregard for constitutional rights of the Plaintiff and all other taxpayers, but
also their conscious indifference and callous disregard for the constitutional rights of any American
citizen and citizens of the State of Texas, including the right to be free from excessive and sexually
assaultive force and brutality with the intent to punish and hurt rather than serving and protecting as is
their constitutional and solitary duty.
L. STATEMENT OF CUSTOM, POLICY AND PRACTICE: RECENT CRIMINAL PRIOR
ACTS, DENIAL OF APPROPRIATE ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNAL AFFAIRS
INVESTIGATIONS AND ALLEGATIONS PERTAINING THERETO
68. On information and belief, Defendant City and numerous other Defendant SAPD
police officers, here, and in several other state and federal civil rights, 42 USC § 1983 and 1988,
actions4, known and unknown, pending in State Courts and in the United States District Court
Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division, have participated in numerous police-involved
aggravated assaults resulting in numerous permanent physical and emotional injuries to San
4 Plaintiff seeks the Court take judicial notice of all such actions, and Plaintiff incorporates herein all such actions, to the extent that they allege a custom, policy and practice of Defendant City and SAPD officers to consistently deny, on the basis of race and National Origin, minority citizens their rights pursuant to the United States and State of Texas Constitutions and federal and state statutes, by reference as if each was fully stated included and included herein.
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Antonio citizens5 and in violation of federal and state constitutional and statutory law, all such
laws herein previously stated in the style and within the content of this pleading.
69. On information and belief, Plaintiff, as have other injured citizens, have
immediate remedial, disciplinary and non-disciplinary actions against the Defendant police
officers in this and other internal affairs complaints pending a full investigation; said requests
have gone unanswered and no administrative, remedial and/or disciplinary actions were initiated
against the Defendant police officers here or in any other such internal affairs complaints.
70. On information and belief, Defendants City, Sculley and McManus administer the
San Antonio Police Department, Division of Internal Affairs, and the Chief’s Citizens Advisory
Review Board, such board created pursuant to city ordinance. Defendants City, Sculley and
McManus operate said board and administer the internal affairs division to insure that most, if
not all, internal affairs investigations result in “no discipline” to the police officers against whom
internal affairs complaints are filed by San Antonio citizens.
71. Defendants City, Sculley and McManus and SAPD officers assigned to the
internal affairs division accomplish this outrageous scam by doing one or more of the following
acts, to wit:
(a) discouraging, verbally, citizens (“complainants”) from filing internal affairs
complaints against police officers;
(b) refusing to allow complainants to state, in their own words, the complained of
offensive and abusive conduct of the officer(s) against whom the complaints are
filed;
5 SEE FN4 for all such cases in which the undersigned represents San Antonio citizens and the causes of action in the records of this Court as maintained by the United States District Court.
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(c) not writing and or typing from the spoken words of the complainants the actual
complaint;
(d) phrasing the complainants’ spoken words of police officer’(s’) offensive and
abusive conduct in a manner that yields the complaint ineffective and ineffectual
as a complaint;
(e) insisting that the complainants sign the typed words of the reporting internal
affairs investigator rather than a statement reflecting their exact words and intent
of the complaint against the officer(s);
(f) refusing to allow complainants to have and possess copies of their signed
complaints:
(g) denying, even after complainants insist, complainants the opportunity to have
legal representative, counsel or a personal representative in the investigation room
while the complainants are verbally giving their complaints to the investigative
officer;
(h) stating to complainants that policies and regulations do not allow a legal
representative, counsel or a personal representative in the investigation room
while the complainants are verbally giving their complaints to the investigative
officer, using such phrases as follow, to wit:
(1) The City of San Antonio/Police Collective Bargaining Agreement does not allow a legal representative, counsel or a personal representative in the investigation room
while the complainants are giving, verbally, the complaints to the investigative officer;
(2) Our policies do not allow a legal representative, counsel or a personal representative in the investigation room
while the complainants are giving, verbally, the complaints to the investigative officer;
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(3) City ordinances do not allow a legal representative, counsel or a personal representative in the investigation room
while the complainants are giving, verbally, the complaints to the investigative officer; and
(4) The Chief of Police does not allow a legal representative, counsel or a personal representative in the investigation room
while the complainants are giving, verbally, the complaints to the investigative officer; (5) The Chief’s Citizens Action Review Board Chairman, a top
ranking SAPD official, does not allow a legal representative, counsel or a personal representative in the investigation room
while the complainants are giving, verbally, the complaints to the investigative officer;
(6) etc., etc., anything to prohibit complainants from having a legal representative, counsel or a personal representative in the investigation room while the complainants are making verbal complaints to the investigative officer thereby eliminating any non-police witnesses to the verbal statements;
(i) refusing, intentionally, to interview and take statements, even though such
statements are flawed as above-described, from eyewitnesses of events
complained of;
72. On information and belief, the San Antonio community has lost confidence in the
Defendant Police Chief McManus and San Antonio Police Department, Internal Affairs
Division, as said Internal Affairs Division. Defendants, individually and collectively, have
instituted an internal affairs procedure that has rendered decisions on most, if not all, citizen
illegal body searches, excessive force, police abuse, and racial profiling complaints as
unsustainable or untrue.
73. On information and belief, the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights
Division, Criminal Unit, has commenced a criminal civil rights violations investigation of the
aggravated sexual assault violation of Plaintiff, as well as the same such investigation of one or
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more other Defendant City police-involved beatings, illegal body cavity searches and shootings
in the year 2006 and 2007.
74. On further information and belief, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil
Rights Division, Criminal Unit, may be investigating the plausible custom and practice of the Defendant
City to commit criminal civil rights violations resulting in serious injury and death to innocent citizens
of the San Antonio and Bexar County metropolitan area.
M. STATE OF TEXAS STATUTORY NOTICE REQUIREMENT AND
ALLEGATIONS PERTAINING THERETO
75. Pursuant to the Texas Local Government Code and the Texas Tort Claims Act,
Defendant City of San Antonio, through Defendants Sculley, McManus and City Attorney
Michael Bernard, and the San Antonio City Clerk, were given notice of the Plaintiffs’ claims.
76. On information and belief, Defendant City maintains a third-party contractual
relationship with a private company or companies that constitutes the Defendant City’s outside
risk manager to whom all notices of injury are required, pursuant to state law.
77. As a direct causal result of the Defendants’ illegal actions, Plaintiff was required to
employ the legal services of James W. Myart, Jr., Attorney-At-Law, of James W. Myart, Jr., P.C., and
Attorney Melaina Hood for the prosecution of his claims against all Defendants, jointly and severally;
same causing Plaintiff additional damages, claim for which is made and authorized by law and/or the
injunctive relief requested herein.
CAUSES OF ACTION
N. FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF
78. The facts and allegations contained in Paragraphs 1 through 77 are incorporated herein by
reference, the same as if fully set forth verbatim.
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79. 42 U.S.C. §1981. Defendants, jointly and severally, intentionally and/or recklessly
denied the Plaintiff the full and equal benefit of all laws, including due process, and proceedings for the
security of person and property as is enjoyed by white citizens, including the right to be free from
unlawful seizure, due process, and cruel and unusual punishment pursuant to the FOURTH, FIFTH,
EIGHTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, all
to Plaintiff damages as alleged herein.
O. SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF
80. The facts and allegations contained in Paragraphs 1 through 77 are incorporated herein by
reference the same as if fully set forth verbatim.
81. 42 U.S.C. §1983. Defendants, acting under color of state law, deprived Plaintiff of
rights, privileges, and immunities secured by the Constitution and laws of the United States, including
those rights secured by the FOURTH, FIFTH, EIGHTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO
THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, by performing the following acts:
a. Subjecting Plaintiff to unreasonable sexual excessive force, great bodily injury and severe
emotional trauma;
b. Interfering with Plaintiff’s right to seek redress for his injuries by covering up law
enforcement misconduct and filing false or misleading police reports.
c. Failing to intercede to prevent violation of law.
78. All such acts were performed against the Plaintiff on the basis of race, Black, and
National Origin, African-American.
P. THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF
82. The facts and allegations contained in Paragraphs 1 through 77 are incorporated herein by
reference the same as if fully set forth verbatim.
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Q. FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF – PENDANT STATE CLAIMS
83. The facts and allegations contained in Paragraphs 1 through 77 are incorporated herein by
reference the same as if fully set forth verbatim.
84. As a pendant state cause of action, Defendants, by acts and/or omissions and under the
color of state law, intentionally, knowingly and/or recklessly violated the Plaintiff’s state constitutional
right to be free from discrimination, denial of due process and equal protection under the Texas state
constitution on the basis of race, Black, and National Origin, African-American. TEXAS
CONSTITUTION, BILL OF RIGHTS.
85. As a pendent state cause of action, at all times material and relevant herein, Defendants,
by acts and/or omissions and under the color of state law, intentionally, knowingly and/or recklessly
caused bodily injury to Plaintiff. The Defendants’ actions constituted aggravated assault. The force used
against Plaintiff was unreasonable and constituted aggravated assault and battery under the laws of the
State of Texas. TEXAS PENAL CODE, TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AND TEXAS
CIVIL PRACTICE AND REMEDIES CODE.
86. At all times material, Defendant individually and in his official capacity, jointly and
severally, intentionally, knowingly and/or recklessly and/or negligently caused, or threatened to cause,
bodily injury to Plaintiff in violation of Texas law prohibiting the violation of the civil rights of a
detainee. TEXAS PENAL CODE.
87. At all times material, Defendants, jointly and severally, intentionally, knowingly and/or
recklessly and/or negligently caused, or threatened to cause, bodily injury to the Plaintiff in violation of
Texas law prohibiting official oppression. TEXAS PENAL CODE.
89. At all times material, Defendants, jointly and severally, intentionally, knowingly and/or
recklessly and/or committed hate crimes against Plaintiffs on the basis of race, Black and National
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Origin, African-American thereby negligently causing bodily injury to the Plaintiff in violation of Texas
law prohibiting hate crimes and official oppression. TEXAS PENAL CODE.
90. At all times material, Defendants, jointly and severally, intentionally, knowingly and/or
recklessly and/or failed to intercede to prevent the crimes herein complained.
R. FIFTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
EXEMPLARY DAMAGES
91. The facts and allegations contained in Paragraphs 1 through 77 are incorporated herein by
reference the same as if fully set forth verbatim.
92. At all times material thereto, Defendants, jointly and severally, acted with such gross
misconduct, gross negligence and such callous disregard for the Plaintiff’s rights so as to shock the
conscience of any reasonable person such that the individual Defendants, jointly and severally, should
be required to pay punitive damages in order that Defendants may be restrained from committing such
acts against any persons or citizens in the future. 42 USC 1983.
S. PRAYER
93. As a result thereof, Defendants are jointly and severally bound and liable to Plaintiff
herein in the sum of not less than One Million Five-Hundred Thousand Dollars (1,500,000.00) for which
sum Plaintiff respectfully prays. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff pray that Defendants be served with process
and answer herein and that, upon a final hearing, the court
(a) award Plaintiffs $5,500,000 against Defendants, jointly and severally;
(b) award Plaintiff exemplary damages against Defendants, severally and jointly, in an
amount sufficient to punish each of the Defendants and/or to deter and make an example of those
Defendants in order to prevent similar conduct in the future;
(c) award Plaintiff reasonable and necessary attorneys’ fees and expenses of litigation;
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(d) court costs;
(e) award Plaintiff pre-judgment and post-judgment interest as provided by law; and,
(f.) award any other general relief to which Plaintiff may show himself entitled.
Dated: September 14, 2007
Respectfully submitted, Law Offices of James W. Myart, Jr. P.C. “The Preston House” 1104 Denver Blvd. San Antonio, Texas 78210 Phone: (210) 533-9461 Fax: (210) 533-4815 E-mail: jwmyartlaw@satx.rr.com By: _______________________________
James W. Myart, Jr. Texas Bar No. 14755950 Federal Bar # TX0021, DCD
Of-Counsel & Co-Counsel Melaina Hood Law Office of Melaina Hood 210-639-2787
PLAINTIFF RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS A JURY TRIAL
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ATTACHMENTS
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